The Vatican Information Service is a news service, founded in the Holy See Press Office, that provides information about the Magisterium and the pastoral activities of the Holy Father and the Roman Curia...[+]

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Monday, July 28, 2008

VATICAN CITY, 28 JUL 2008 (VIS) - This morning, the Holy Father travelled by car from his summer residence at Castelgandolfo to Rome's Ciampino airport, where at 10.35 a.m. he boarded a plane for Bolzano. Landing in that city's "Dolomitas" airport at 11.20 a.m., he then travelled by car to Bressanone where he will remain until 11 August.

Pope Benedict will be staying in the seminary of Bressanone, a small city in north-eastern Italy where he spent a number of holidays between 1970 and 2004.

On Sunday 3 August and Sunday 10 August, Benedict XVI will preside at the praying of the Angelus in the cathedral square of Bressanone.

General audiences will resume, following the Pope's return, from Wednesday 13 August.

From 15 August, on Sundays and Solemnities the praying of the Angelus will take place at the Apostolic Palace of Castelgandolfo..../POPE VACATION/BRESSANONE VIS 20080728 (150)

VATICAN CITY, 27 JUL 2008 (VIS) - After praying the Angelus today, Benedict XVI addressed some remarks to participants in the general assembly of the "Focolari" Movement, who have just elected as their president Maria Voce, a former collaborator of the late Chiara Lubich, and as co-president Giancarlo Faletti, joint head of the Focolari in Rome.

"As I express my happiness at the election of the new leaders", said the Pope, "I encourage you all, dear brothers and sisters, to continue joyfully and courageously along the path of the spiritual heritage of Chiara Lubich, as enshrined in your Statues, increasing communion in families, in communities and in all areas of society".

The Holy Father then addressed greetings to people currently on holiday, expressing the hope that "they may spend days of serenity and of beneficial physical and spiritual relaxation. However, I do not forget those who are unable to enjoy a period of rest and vacation: I am thinking of the sick in hospital and rest homes, of prisoners, of the elderly, of those who are alone, and of everyone who spends the summer in the heat of the city. To each of them I give assurances of my closeness and a mention in my prayers".ANG/FOCOLARI SUMMER/CASTELGANDOLFO VIS 20080728 (220)

VATICAN CITY, 27 JUL 2008 (VIS) - At midday today, Benedict XVI appeared at the balcony overlooking the inner courtyard of the Apostolic Palace at Castelgandolfo, to pray the Angelus with the faithful and pilgrims gathered there.

The Pope spoke of his recent trip to Australia to preside at the 23rd World Youth Day where, he said, he had had the opportunity "to encounter the youthful face of the Church". He also recalled how people - using "a beautiful expression that encapsulates the essence of these international Days established by John Paul II" - had described the participants as "young pilgrims of the world".

"These meetings", the Holy Father explained, "represent stages of a great pilgrimage across the planet to show how faith in Christ makes us all children of the one Father Who is in heaven, and builders of a civilisation of love".

What characterised the meeting in Sydney, he went on, "was an awareness of the central role of the Holy Spirit, a leading player in the life of the Church and of Christians". The Pope went on to recall how, during the days leading up to the closing Mass, bishops from all over the world had presented catecheses in the churches of Sydney, "moments of reflection and of prayer, indispensable in order to ensure the event left not only outward traces but a profound interior impression on people's consciences.

"The evening vigil in the heart of the city, under the Southern Cross", the Pope added, "was a choral invocation of the Holy Spirit", while during the Eucharistic celebration of Sunday 20 July, he had "invited everyone present to renew their baptismal promises

"Thus", he went on, "this World Day became a new Pentecost, from which the mission of young people started out afresh, called to be apostles of their peers like so many saints and blesseds" such as "Blessed Piergiorgio Frassati whose relics, placed in Sydney cathedral, were venerated by a constant pilgrimage of young people. All young men and woman are called to follow their example and share the personal experience of Jesus which changes the lives of His 'friends' with the power of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of God's love".

Benedict XVI concluded his remarks by thanking the WYD organisers and everyone who had prayed for the success of the event. Finally, he invoked the protection of Mary for his own period of vacation which begins tomorrow in Bressanone, a city in the Italian region of Alto Adige.ANG/WYD/... VIS 20080728 (420)

VATICAN CITY, 26 JUL 2008 (VIS) - Yesterday afternoon, the Holy See Press Office announced that on 4 October, Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, patron saint of Italy, Benedict XVI will make an official visit to the Quirinal Palace, resident of the Italian president, to return the visit made by Giorgio Napolitano, president of the Italian Republic, to the Vatican on 20 November 2006.OP/VISIT QUIRINAL/NAPOLITANO VIS 20080728 (80)